Predicting blood-brain barrier permeability of molecules with a large language model and machine learning.

Predicting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of small-molecule compounds using a novel artificial intelligence platform is necessary for drug discovery. Machine learning and a large language model on artificial intelligence (AI) tools improve the accuracy and shorten the time for new drug development. The primary goal of this research is to develop artificial intelligence (AI) computing models and novel deep learning architectures capable of predicting whether molecules can permeate the human blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Adjuvant Chemotherapy Does Not Improve Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients With Stage 2 or Stage 3 Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Total Mesorectal Excision.

Background: Current guidelines for locally advanced stage 2/3 rectal cancer recommend neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision and adjuvant chemotherapy. The oncologic benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy has not been consistently demonstrated.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate disease recurrence and survival in patients with rectal cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy after chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision.

Treatment sequencing strategy for hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma.

Background: The biology of hepatic epithelial haemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is variable, lying intermediate to haemangioma and angiosarcoma. Treatments vary owing to the rarity of the disease and frequent misdiagnosis.

Methods: Between 1989 and 2013, patients retrospectively identified with HEHE from a single academic cancer centre were analysed to evaluate clinicopathological factors and initial treatment regimens associated with survival.

Treatment options for metaplastic breast cancer.

Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is a malignancy characterized by the histologic presence of two or more cellular types, commonly a mixture of epithelial and mesenchymal components. MBC is rare relative to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), representing less than 1% of all breast cancers. Other than a lower rate of lymph node metastases, MBC tumors display poorer prognostic features relative to IDC.

Rural-urban disparities in use of post-lumpectomy radiation.

We hypothesized that breast cancer (BCa) patients in urban counties would have higher rates of post-lumpectomy radiation therapy (RT) relative to patients in near-metro and rural counties. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify women diagnosed with BCa treated with lumpectomy in the Sacramento area between 2000 and 2006. Patient counties were categorized as urban and near-metro.

Urban and non-urban disparities in the use of post-mastectomy radiation for breast cancer.

Post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) is indicated for local-regionally advanced breast cancer (LABC). We hypothesized that candidates for PMRT from non-urban areas would receive lower rates of RT than urban patients and would have poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to identify patients diagnosed with LABC and treated with mastectomy in Sacramento and its surrounding 13 counties between 2000 and 2006.

Perioperative outcomes for open distal pancreatectomy: current benchmarks for comparison.

Background: Open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) outcomes have largely relied on single-institution data from high-volume, tertiary centers. To provide contemporary, national benchmarks of ODP outcomes, we examined the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database.

Methods: Using the ACS-NSQIP database (2005-2007), we identified 868 cases of ODP.

Predicting survival for well-differentiated liposarcoma: the importance of tumor location.

Background: Although well-differentiated liposarcoma (WD Lipo) is a low grade neoplasm with a negligible risk of metastatic disease, it can be locally aggressive. We hypothesized that survival for WD Lipo varies significantly based on tumor location.

Methods: We identified 1266 patients with WD Lipo in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1988-2004.

Do radiation use disparities influence survival in patients with advanced breast cancer?

Background: The authors previously identified racial/ethnic disparities in the use of radiation therapy (RT) in patients with advanced breast cancer (BC). They hypothesized that disparities in the use of RT were associated with survival differences favoring white patients.

Methods: The authors used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to identify white, black, Hispanic, and Asian patients with BC associated with ≥ 10 metastatic lymph nodes diagnosed between 1988 and 2005.

Nomogram to predict risk of 30-day morbidity and mortality for patients with disseminated malignancy undergoing surgical intervention.

Objective: To estimate individual risk of 30-day surgical morbidity and mortality after surgical intervention for patients with disseminated malignancy (DMa).

Background: Patients with DMa frequently require surgical consultation for palliative operations. Although these patients are at high risk for surgical morbidity and mortality, limited data exist allowing individual risk stratification.

Outcomes for lymph node-positive cutaneous melanoma over two decades.

Background: Our aim was to demonstrate that, despite advances in treatment and surveillance of node-positive cutaneous melanoma, rates of overall survival (OS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) have not changed over the last two decades.

Methods: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of the National Cancer Institute to identify patients with node-positive cutaneous melanoma. Patients were categorized by treatment era; the first era encompassed patients diagnosed from 1988 to 1999 and the second era 2000 to 2006.

Surgical resident involvement is safe for common elective general surgery procedures.

Background: Outcomes of surgical resident training are under scrutiny with the changing milieu of surgical education. Few have investigated the effect of surgical resident involvement (SRI) on operative parameters. Examining 7 common general surgery procedures, we evaluated the effect of SRI on perioperative morbidity and mortality and operative time (OpT).

Lack of survival benefit following adjuvant radiation in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma: a SEER analysis.

Background: The benefit of radiation therapy (RT) among patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is controversial. We performed a retrospective analysis of the effect of RT on survival among RPS patients using a nationwide cancer registry.

Methods: Utilizing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we identified 2308 cases of RPS from 1988 to 2004.

Contiguous organ resection is safe in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma: An ACS-NSQIP analysis.

Background And Objectives: The practice of aggressive contiguous organ resection (COR) of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is controversial. We examined rates of 30-day morbidity and mortality following resection of RPS utilizing data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database.

Methods: From 2005 to 2007, we identified 156 cases of primary malignant neoplasm of the retroperitoneum.

Tumor location predicts survival in cutaneous head and neck melanoma.

Background: Prior studies documented poorer outcomes in patients with cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM) relative to those with melanoma at other sites. We evaluated survival differences attributable to tumor location in patients with CHNM.

Methods: We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for patients undergoing surgery for CHNM from 1988 to 2006, excluding patients without biopsy-proven diagnoses, those diagnosed at autopsy, and patients with distant metastases.

Sacramento area breast cancer epidemiology study: use of postmastectomy breast reconstruction along the rural-to-urban continuum.

Background: Health care disparities have been documented in rural populations. The authors hypothesized that breast cancer patients in urban counties would have higher rates of postmastectomy breast reconstruction relative to patients in surrounding near-metro and rural counties.

Methods: The authors used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to identify patients diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with mastectomy in the greater Sacramento area between 2000 and 2006.

Histologic type predicts survival in patients with retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma.

Background: Histologic grade, completeness of resection, and presence of metastases are traditionally regarded as the primary factors in predicting survival for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPSTS). We sought to examine the importance of histologic type as a prognostic factor among patients with RPSTS.

Methods: We identified 2337 cases of RPSTS in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1988 to 2004.

Metaplastic breast cancer: to radiate or not to radiate?

Background: The role of radiation therapy (RT) is unclear for metaplastic breast cancer (MBC). We hypothesized that RT would improve overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Materials And Methods: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify MBC patients diagnosed from 1988 to 2006.